Wolf Pack Weekly, March 23-29
Mar 23, 2015The Wolf Pack (34-22-5-4, 77 pts.) picked up three of a possible six points this past weekend, to grab sole possession of sixth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Pack completed a four-game season series sweep of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Friday night, posting a 3-2 win at the XL Center, led by Chris Mueller’s goal and two assists. A four-game Wolf Pack win streak came to an end Saturday night at Springfield, but the Pack gained a standings point for a fifth straight game in a 2-1 shootout loss. Yann Danis made 34 saves in the Hartford net in that game. Sunday saw the Wolf Pack travel to Albany and build a 2-0 lead through two periods, but the Devils broke out for five in the third, handing the Wolf Pack a 5-3 defeat. Oscar Lindberg scored for a Wolf Pack season-high fifth straight game, and added an assist, in that contest, and fellow Swede Carl Klingberg also had a goal and an assist.
For the latest AHL standings, click here.
This week: The Wolf Pack will play a pair of regional rivalry games this weekend, the first on Friday night at the XL Center vs. the Providence Bruins. That game faces off at 7:00 PM, and the Wolf Pack and Springfield Falcons will clash at 7:00 on Saturday night at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
Friday, March 27 vs. the Providence Bruins at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
- At this and all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers at the XL Center, through the start of the second period.
- Also at Friday-night home games this year, “Hawk’s Nest” is featured in the XL Center’s Comcast Coliseum Club, with Bob “Hawk” Crawford, the play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, conducting a Wolf Pack-themed interview from 6:00-6:20 PM. Questions and comments will be welcomed from the patrons enjoying the Comcast Coliseum Club’s wide array of dining and beverage options. The Comcast Coliseum Club restaurant and bar area is open two hours prior to every Wolf Pack home game, to everyone holding a ticket to the game.
- This is also the Wolf Pack’s “Anti-Bullying Night”. The Pack will wear special jerseys, featuring the names of all the fans who took the Wolf Pack’s on-line anti-bullying pledge. The jerseys will be auctioned off during the second intermission, and the winning bidders will receive the jerseys from the players, on the ice, immediately after the game. Proceeds from the jersey auction will be donated to the National School Climate Center, “Educating Minds and Hearts…because the Three Rs are not Enough”.
- This is one of two Wolf Pack “Read to the Rink” nights. Students who participated in the Wolf Pack’s “Read to the Rink” program, presented by ProHealth Physicians/Healthy Me, and read the required five books, can receive a complimentary ticket to this game.
- The Wolf Pack and Bruins come into the week two points apart in the Eastern Conference standings. The fifth-place Bruins are 35-22-7-2 for 79 points, two points behind fourth-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, after a 3-2 home loss to St. John’s Sunday. That was Providence’s second regulation defeat in the last three games, after an 11-1-2-1 run in the previous 15.
- Hartford and Providence have split two previous meetings this year, with the Bruins winning 4-1 November 21 in Providence and the Wolf Pack capturing a 1-0 decision at the XL Center January 21.
- Veteran Bruin goaltender Jeremy Smith (18-8-5), who is 4-0-1 in his last five decisions, has the second-best save percentage (93.6), and third-best goals-against average (1.96), in the AHL.
- For this and all Wolf Pack home games, tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger and are available at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.
- Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on Fox Sports Radio 1410, on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and on iHeartRadio. Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.
Saturday, March 28 at the Springfield Falcons (MassMutual Center), 7:00 PM
- This is the second straight Saturday-night visit for the Wolf Pack to Springfield, and their last of five road games in the season series. The Pack had won five straight against Springfield before this past Saturday’s 2-1 shootout loss at the MassMutual Center, and the Pack have yet to lose in regulation in eight games between the two teams on the year (5-0-0-3). Prior to the shootout defeat Saturday, the Wolf Pack had scored overtime wins in each of their three trips to Springfield.
- The Falcons enter the week two points behind the Wolf Pack in the Eastern Conference and Northeast Division standings, with a record of 34-25-7-0 for 75 points.
- Springfield captain Ryan Craig scored the Falcons’ only goal in regulation in Saturday’s game against the Wolf Pack, and that was his 90th in a Falcon uniform, which ties him for the all-time franchise lead.
- Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on Fox Sports Radio 1410, on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and on iHeartRadio. Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.
Wolf Pack Community Appearances: The Wolf Pack have the following appearances scheduled this week. For further information on these, or any other Wolf Pack community initiatives, contact Wolf Pack community relations manager Frank Berrian, at (860) 541-4728:
- Wednesday, March 25, 2:45 PM, Capital Prep Magnet School, 1304 Main St., Hartford, CT: Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s lovable mascot, promotes the Wolf Pack’s “Read to the Rink” program at Capital Prep.
- Wednesday, March 25, 5:00 PM, Parade of Novelties, 470 Lewis Ave., Meriden, CT: Sonar meets and greets fans at Parade of Novelties in the Meriden Mall.
- Saturday, March 28, 5:00 PM, Northwestern Regional High School, 100 Battistoni Dr., Winsted, CT: Sonar joins in the fun of Northwestern Regional School District #7’s alumni basketball game.
Recent Transactions:
Kodie Curran – Signed by the Wolf Pack to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement March 18.
Practice: All Wolf Pack practices at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell are open to the public. Schedule is subject to change.
Tue., March 24 10:30 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center
Wed., March 25 10:30 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center
Thurs., March 26 10:30 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center
Fri., March 27 10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game vs. Providence)
Sat., March 28 10:00 – 10:30 AM, Champions Skating Center (Game at Springfield)
Sun., March 29 No practice
Mon., March 30 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Pack Tracks: Once again this season, every Friday-night Wolf Pack home game will feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers, through the start of the second period. After this Friday night, the Wolf Pack are right back at the XL Center Friday, April 3, when the Syracuse Crunch visit for a 7:00 PM game.
The XL Center’s Comcast Coliseum Club will be featuring a new buffet package for all remaining Saturday Wolf Pack games. The menu will include: tender, juicy, endless prime rib, alongside seven premium Saturday-only buffet additions, those being delicious, nonstop peel ‘n eat shrimp, a nightly chef special, fresh vegetables, potatoes, a kids’ entree, salad, fresh fruit, antipasto and dessert, all for only $19.00. The Pack’s next Saturday home game is April 4, a 7:00 battle against the Manchester Monarchs.
Tickets all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.
To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.